Eye, Ear, Nose swab aerobic culture test

Your doctor will order an aerobic culture test when he/she suspects that you have an infection of the eyes, ears or nose. Symptoms that are indicative of an infection include the following:

• Eye:

  • Pain or redness inside or around the eye (e.g., margins, eyelids and white portion of the eye called sclera)
  • Sticky yellow discharge from the eye
• Ear:
  • Pain inside and around the ear (Read more: Ear pain causes)
  • Fever
  • Pus discharge from the ear
  • The following symptoms are seen on close examination:
    • Redness inside and around the ear
    • Collection of fluid behind the eardrum

• Nose: The symptoms are most often related to sinuses. A sinus is an empty space in the head that is connected to the nose.

  • Stuffiness in the nose
  • Sneezing
  • Thick yellowish discharge from the nose
  • Fever
  • Pain in the head
  • Pain over the sinuses around the nose and root of the nose

A lab technician will give you all the information regarding the test. He/she will also look for redness, pus discharge and pain based on the type of culture is to be done (eye, ear or nose). Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about the test. Also, tell your physician if you are taking any antibiotics or other medicine.

A specimen for culture test is collected in the following manner:

• Eye:

  • A lab technician will first clean the excess of dried discharge around your eye with a cotton or gauze piece dipped in normal saline.
  • He/she will draw back your lower eyelid and gently rub a sterile swab over the red portion of the eyelid.
  • The swab will be immediately transferred to a special bag called culturette sleeve and will be sent to the laboratory at room temperature.
• Ear:
  • A nurse or lab technician will use a clean the excess of discharge and other dried-up debris inside your ear with the help of a gauze piece soaked in normal saline.
  • He/she will then use a swab or syringe to collect a sample of the discharge in the ear.
  • The technician will place the swab inside the ear and roll it gently to get it absorbed.
  • The swab will be kept in the culturette sleeve and will immediately be sent to the laboratory for analysis. 
• Nasal swab:
  • A lab technician will ask you tilt your head slightly back to ease the collection of a nasal swab.
  • He/she will gently place a swab inside one of your nostrils, close to the midline wall and floor inside the nose and will gently rotate the swab for a few seconds while keeping it near the walls of the nostrils. 
  • Once the sample is collected, the technician will place the swab in a culturette sleeve and send it to the laboratory as early as possible at room temperature.

The entire procedure of the test (from specimen collection to obtaining results) takes seven to 14 days.

There are no side effects or risks associated with the eye, ear or nasal swab culture.

Normal results: 

A low count of bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis or Lactobacillus species in an eye culture is considered a normal result as these are the local flora in the eyes. Similarly, local flora of the ear and nose found in their respective cultures are considered a normal result.

Abnormal results: 

Abnormal results are written as positive for the growth of infectious aerobic bacteria. 

It indicates an aerobic bacterial infection in the concerned area.

Abnormal results are obtained in the following infections:

• Conjunctivitis or infection in the eye
• Otitis or infection in the ear
• Rhinitis or sinusitis

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.